Boot tree or last.



m 5 r a M u e t n e t .a P L U 0 P on F n G N K B i BOOT TREE 08 LAST.

(Application filed Feb. 19, 1900.;

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{No Model.)

In: animus PETERS 06. PRO

No. 669,l73.

4 Patented Mar. 5, I90L. J. B. KING 6. F. R. POOL.

800T TBE E on LAST.

(Application filed Pub. 19, 1900A (No Model.) 3 Sheots8heet z.

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BOOT. TREE on AS I (Application fild Feb. 19, 1900.\

(No Model.)

I I l l l l 2 l .I

NiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. KING, OF MU'ILEY, AND FREDERICK R. POOL, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

BOOT TREE OR LAST.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 669,1 '73, dated March5, 1901.

Application filed February 19, 1900. Serial No. 6,830. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN BARAGWANATH KING, residing at Mutley, in thecounty of Devon, and FREDERICK ROUSE PooL, residing at London,England,subjects of the Queen of Great Britain, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Boot lrees or Lasts, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description, and for which we have madeapplications for patents in Great Britain, dated July 21L, 1899; inGermany, dated August 16, 1899, and in France, dated January 23, 1900.

The invention has forits object an improved boot tree or last which iscapable of ready application to a boot or shoe and of removal therefrom,while for packing or transport it is capable of assuming a compact formwithout separation of any of the parts.

Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a side view, Fig. 2 an under side view, and Fig. 3 avertical longitudinal section, of our improved boot tree or last.

In carrying our invention into efiect we form a boot tree or lastpreferably of the usual external form and in two piecesnamely, a frontportion A, comprising the main part of the foot, and a heel portion B,formed with a forwardly-projecting web b, fitting and capable of slidingwithin a slot or space a, formed in the front portion. A slot 1) ispreferably formed in the web I) of the heel portion B, and pins a arepassed through the front portion A and through said slot b to guide andcontrol the motion of the heel portion B; but other means may beemployed for this purpose.

In the web b of the heel portion B is formed a space or socket b toreceive the operating and retaining end of a lever 0, working within theslot or space a in the front portion A of the tree or last, and saidlever c has its fulcrum-pin c fixed in the upper part of said frontportion A. The space or socket b in the web I) of the heel portion B isof such form as to enable the operating end of the lever c to swingfreely therein and engage the opposite walls thereof, thereby to movesaid heel portion B in either direction, as may be required, and saidspace I) may be formed with notches b in its rear wall to receive andlock the operating and retaining end of the lever c, which latter isformed as a tooth or wiper.

In Fig. 1 the lever c is shown by full lines in the position it wouldoccupy when inserting the tree or last in a boot or shoe and by dottedlines in the packed position.

In some cases the lever may be pivoted to the heel portion and the webmay form part of the front portion of the last.

We have shown the slot b slightly inclined from the horizontal, by whichmeans the instep portion is caused somewhat to rise,thereby stretchingthe boot or shoe upper in a vertical direction in addition to thehorizontal; but, if desired, the slot 19 may be made in a horizontalposition.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. A boot tree or last, having a front portion adapted to receive theheel portion, a heel portion provided with asocket and adapted to bemoved longitudinally in relation to the front portion, and an operatingand retaining lever pivoted to the front portion and adapted to engageopposite walls of the socket in the heel portion to move the heel andfront portions to and from each other, and retain them in position whenin use, and capable of being turned over when not in use, and lyingcompactly on the top of the boot tree or last, substantially, as setforth.

2. In a boot tree or last, the combination of a front portion and a heelportion, one of said portions formed with a longitudinal vertical slotand the other portion formed with a longitudinal vertical web fitting insaid slot, said web provided with a transverse slot and a space orsocket, pins fixed in one portion and passed through the transverse slotin the web, and an operating and retaining lever pivoted to one of saidportions and engaging the space or socket formed in the web,substantially as set forth.

3. In a boot tree or last, the combination of a front portion, having avertical slot, a heel portion, a web carried by the heel portion andfitting the slot in the front portion, and provided with a slot and aspace or socket having notches, pins passed through the front portionand through the slot in the Web, and

an operating and retaining lever pivoted to the front portion, the endof the operatinglever engaging the space or socket in the web and thenotches formed in said space or socket,

whereby the parts are retained in position when in use, substantially asset forth.

In testimony whereof We aii'ix our signatures in presence of witnesses.

J. B. KING. F. R. POOL.

Witnesses to the signature of J. B. King:

ARTHUR GEAKE, BERNARD LYNDEN.

Witnesses to the signature of F. R. Pool:

B. J. B. MILLS, W. GIRLING.

